THE Community responder bULVERDE SPRING BRANCH FIRE
Transcription
THE Community responder bULVERDE SPRING BRANCH FIRE
THE Community responder bULVERDE SPRING BRANCH FIRE & EMS APRIL 2015 VOLUME III, ISSUE 2 Pancake Breakfast, Ribbon Cutting & Annual Community Update Citizens enjoyed the pancake breakfast, tour of the new station, and chatting with all of the directors and staff of BSB Fire & EMS on Saturday, April 18th at the newest station at Johnson Ranch. There was a wonderful community turn-out with elected officials from the State, County, City of Bulverde, ESD Commissioners from 1, 4 and 5, and the Non-profit Board led by its President, Colonel Steve Stevenson. The board also presented their annual report to the community on the previous year's activity. It was an enjoyable and momentous day!! The mobile clinic and classroom, Wellness on Wheels, or WOW, traveled to the Valero Texas Open in March and served as the medical "tent"/clinic. BSB Fire & EMS was WOW'd by the Open's work and preparation for the PGA's golfers. BSB Fire & EMS stood ready to help in case of any emergency at the event. Station Wagon to WOW, page 3 ESD #4 — Champions of Fire & Rescue, page 5 PEC’s Light the Way, page 6 1 Breakfast, Ribbon and Update (continued from front cover) From serving up pancakes, raising the flag, and enjoying the opportunity to meet and talk with all the wonderful personnel and leadership at Bulverde Spring Branch Fire & EMS, the 2015 Annual Update was a true success all around! 2 From station wagon to wow On Saturday, April 18th, Bulverde Spring Branch Fire & EMS celebrated the opening of their newest station in Johnson Ranch. From its modest beginnings, it truly is remarkable in how this 36-year old organization has evolved. Their mission statement, “to respond immediately with educated professionals through pioneering science and technology, creating profound good,” is lived each and every day. The organization actually had three separate beginnings but all have connecting stories that ultimately becomes a model system. 1959 - The Spring Branch Volunteer Fire Department was the first emergency services organization in the Bulverde Spring Branch area. The Community Service Committee of the Spring Branch Grange set forth motion in the community to see if the people would support the establishment of a Volunteer Fire Department. The vote that evening was nearly unanimous in favor, and a committee of seven men was elected to investigate the future. Interestingly, Curtis Bremer, one of those seven original gentlemen, has continued to serve emergency services for over 55 years with distinction. The fire department went on to fund their firefighting through a Women’s Auxiliary and too many bake sales and barbeques to list. 1966 – Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department was formed because of an obvious need for structure and brush firefighting, but the founders also worked to form a Rescue Squad with medical capabilities in the formative years. The department was originally the Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department, but was split into two separate departments in 1986 to establish tax funds more effectively between the two counties. Bexar County helped with funding in the early years. 1978 - Bulverde-Spring Branch EMS was formed after a 46-year old man died of a heart attack and Bexar County (San Antonio) was unable to cross the county line and a local hospital was too far. Like both local fire departments, EMS had meager beginnings, transporting out of a converted station wagon. Soon a slew of bake sales and other creative fundraisers began. Many 911 calls were run from the homes of volunteers. Ambulances ran out of a station in this rural county of Comal. The ambulances shared the bays with frisky raccoons many evenings. Over the last 55 years since the creation of the first Fire Department (and subsequent departments) financial struggles were always on the top of every meeting and strategic planning session. There was one other constant — every medic, every firefighter, every volunteer, and every medical director has pushed for improved increased standards in service, training, communication, patient care, as well as fire scene skill and responsiveness. (continued on page 4) 3 Wagon to WOW (continued from previous page) FUNDING The two fire departments and the EMS department eventually received some limited funding from Rural Fire Prevention Districts and Emergency Services Districts, which are political subdivisions with taxing authority created through petitions signed by at least 100 voters in Comal County and then voted upon in the proposed district. In their rural county over the last 55 years many factors have developed to make maintaining a viable Fire & EMS department, with up-to-date vehicles and highly trained personnel a significant challenge such as: ● Population density and growth ● High traffic increase including increased motor vehicle accidents ● Increase in commercial and residential construction ● Large increase in the number of Fire & EMS 911 calls ALMOST TO THE PRESENT In 2014 the two fire departments agreed that to strengthen the daily operations and meet budget challenges, forming a single governance structure with EMS was the best answer. Bulverde Spring Branch Emergency Services, dba Bulverde Spring Branch Fire & EMS, was created to manage the merged departments under the direction of Mechelle Salmon, the Chief Executive Director. With six months preparation, the merger was planned and executed. Salmon and her team worked with the Board of Directors and leadership of four (4) separate and distinct organizations to merge into one. Salmon and her team worked to see every benefit, every paycheck, and each career continued without interruption. Fire & EMS Chiefs ensured cohesion and company pride by creating a new combined shield, new uniforms and re-decaling all 32 vehicles. This profound change happened without one single delay in fire response, or response to any ill or injured citizen in their 216 square mile district. This merged company includes Bulverde Spring Branch Fire & EMS, the Centre for Emergency Health Sciences, and Acacia Medical, and is a model for Texas and beyond, in both best practices and care for community members. 4 Emergency Services District #4 Champions of Fire & Rescue Emergency Services District #4 (ESD #4) serves a 114 square mile area and station placement is critical. Distance is the enemy of life-saving outcomes. Structure fires also require fast action to save occupants and their pets, and to limit damage. Likewise, if brush fires are not contained immediately, the underbrush and Cedar trees can quickly consume acres and threaten structures. TODAY, we’ve got you covered… TOMORROW…we need two more permanent stations: ● In the eastern part of Highway 46 West (recent opening of a Day Station at FM 311 and Rebecca Creek Road) ● At Mystic Shores and FM 306 Emergency Service Districts in our area are also challenged with explosive growth, both residential and commercial, staffing and equipping stations to keep response times under ten minutes, and interoperability radio communications. ESD #4 has a local cap of 6¢ on its property tax while neighboring ESDs have the state allowable cap of 10¢. This election, we are requesting an increase in the the cap. THIS IS NOT FOR A TAX INCREASE. There will be no tax increase in 2015. The May 9th Election IS critical. The question on the ballot reads: “Authorizing an increase in the maximum ad valorem tax rate that Comal County Emergency Services District No. 4 may impose on property within the District to a rate not to exceed ten cents ($0.10) per one hundred dollars ($100).” This election is the first request for a property tax issue since the cap was established in 2004. Early Voting 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday, April 27th - Tuesday, May 5th (except Saturday, May 2nd and Sunday, May 3rd) Election Day 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Polling Location: Central Station 353 Rodeo Drive Spring Branch 5 LIGHT THE WAY LUNCHEON Judy Millspaugh, BSB Fire & EMS Development Director, and Gwen Pain, also with the Development Department, attended the Pedernales Electric’s Light the Way luncheon. The program gratefully recognizes and supports groups such as chambers of commerce, emergency medical services, libraries, fire departments and senior citizen centers serving members in their 8,100-square-mile territory. BSB Fire & EMS received a $1,000 donation from the Co-op. In addition, attendees heard a very motivating presentation from Ronnie McDonald, former Bastrop County Judge and executive director for Texas A&M AgriLife’s community relations and strategic partnerships. In this capacity he serves as the executive director of the Texas Rural Leadership Program, Inc. and provides leadership as an ex-officio member of the board of directors. The message he delivered was the importance of connecting with each other in our rural setting, which can be difficult if individuals do not make an effort to close the gaps in outreach. Left: Ronnie McDonald, guest speaker Right: (l to r) Sandy Hancock, BSB Chamber of Commerce Director, Judy Millspaugh, BSB Fire & EMS Development Director and Rhonda Zunker, BSB Chamber of Commerce President. Copyright 2015 All Rights Reserved 6